Families Against Cancer & Toxics

Clean Energy….or a Toxic Pollution Threat?

Incinerators in Disguise Proposed for
Sierra Vista and Nogales…would be first in U.S.

A company called Global Energy Resources LLC wants to build “waste-to-energy” facilities in Sierra Vista and Nogales, claiming they can treat garbage and sewage sludge and generate electricity using a “plasma gasification process in combination with pyrolysis” without toxic emissions! Sound too good to be true? It is too good to be true!

The first in the U.S.: If built, these would be the very first commercial facilities in the entire United States treating solid waste or sewage sludge using a plasma arc technology.

Importing garbage and tires into our communities: Global Energy wants Cochise County to guarantee a 20 year supply of waste including 100,000 tons of garbage and 100,000 tires per year. As Cochise County does not generate that much garbage or tires, waste would be imported.

Zero emissions….or Dioxin and other toxic chemicals and metals in our air?
Global Energy has claimed the facility would have zero or very low emissions, but did not provide any detailed emissions data to back up their claim. Although Global Energy claims this is not an incinerator, in fact this technology would heat the waste material and burn the waste gases, emitting pollution into the air through a stack or other output. Also, some toxic materials would end up in a solid residue, and the company wants to discharge wastewater into the aquifer.

Air pollution will also result from “upset conditions” when equipment breaks down, a common problem with incineration technologies. If this occurs, toxic pollution will be emitted directly into the air, without going through pollution control equipment.

Dioxin is extremely toxic in small doses: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and scientific studies around the world confirm that dioxin is super-toxic in very small doses of exposure. Dioxin exposure can cause cancer, reproductive, developmental, immunological and other serious ill health effects.

Reduce, Recycle, Reuse - Don’t Burn! County and city officials should work with residents to greatly increase recycling in our communities. We need increased curbside recycling and recycling of more types of materials. Reducing, recycling and reusing materials will keep tons of material out of our landfills, and will save money and protect our air and water.


CALL YOUR CITY COUNCIL AND VOICE YOUR OPINION!
CALL YOUR COCHISE COUNTY SUPERVISOR (520) 432-9200

For more information contact:

Greenaction for Health and Environmental Justice
www.greenaction.org
greenaction@greenaction.org
Teri Johnson
(602) 279-5001

Families Against Cancer &Toxics
www.familiesagainstcancer.org
Terry Nordbrock
(520) 795-7228

Concerned Cochise County Residents
Joni Adamson
378-4217